Why are individuals with intellectual disabilities not allowed to
be sentenced to death?
a
Roper v. Simmons found this sentencing to be
unconstitutional.
b Individuals with intellectual disabilities are only allowed to
be sentenced to death for homicide.
c It is considered cruel and unusual, because by the nature
of their diagnosis, these individuals have a lessened ability
to understand the severity of their crimes.
d They are not over the age of 18, so they cannot
understand the severity of their crimes.
c They are considered to have a lessened ability to understand the severity of their crimes.
The correct answer is: c. It is considered cruel and unusual, because by the nature of their diagnosis, these individuals have a lessened ability to understand the severity of their crimes.
The correct answer is c. It is considered cruel and unusual, because by the nature of their diagnosis, individuals with intellectual disabilities have a lessened ability to understand the severity of their crimes.
To understand why individuals with intellectual disabilities are not allowed to be sentenced to death, it is important to look at the legal landscape surrounding this issue. One landmark case that is relevant to this question is Roper v. Simmons. In this case, the United States Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty on individuals who were under the age of 18 at the time of their crimes. This ruling was based on the recognition that juveniles have less culpability and a greater potential for rehabilitation.
While Roper v. Simmons specifically addressed juveniles, it set an important precedent by recognizing that certain categories of individuals may be less deserving of the death penalty due to their diminished capacity for moral culpability. This principle has been extended to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Categorizing individuals with intellectual disabilities as less deserving of the death penalty is rooted in the idea that they may have a limited ability to understand the severity of their actions and fully comprehend the consequences of their crimes. Intellectual disabilities can have a significant impact on a person's cognitive functioning, adaptive behavior, and social skills. This can result in difficulties in reasoning, problem-solving, and judgment.
As a result, it is considered cruel and unusual to sentence individuals with intellectual disabilities to death because their capacity for moral reasoning and understanding of their crimes is diminished. In many legal systems, this is seen as a violation of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
In conclusion, individuals with intellectual disabilities are not allowed to be sentenced to death because it is considered cruel and unusual punishment. This is based on the recognition that individuals with intellectual disabilities may have a diminished ability to understand the severity of their actions and therefore may be less culpable for their crimes.